Cassette arrangement for accommodating boxes or the like, especially petri dishes

ABSTRACT

The cassette arrangement is used to accommodate boxes or the like, in particular petri dishes. This arrangement is characterized by a shäll.ow box-shaped cassette housing designed to be stackable and having a slotted opening an one end face for inserting or removing a box or a dish and having finger-operated means arranged an the opposite end face for pushing the dish out at least partially through the opening in the cassette housing. Through these measures, safe handling and transport of petri dishes or the like is now guaranteed. The cassette arrangement also permits secure stacking and problem-free removal of individual boxes or petri dishes from the stack.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority of Swiss Application No. 2000 2144/00 filed Nov. 3, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to a cassette arrangement for accommodating boxes or the like, especially petri dishes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] In many fields of technology, highly sensitive materials such as chips are stored in boxes temporarily. So-called petri dishes in the form of shallow glass dishes with a cover are used for qualitative and quantitative detection of microorganisms in microbiological laboratories in particular and for culturing cells in cellular biology laboratories; for space-saving reasons, up to 20 or more such petri dishes are usually stacked together. Such relatively tall stacks are very unstable, however, and can fall over easily, so that the covers fall away from the dishes and thus contamination can spread in the laboratory, for example, which could have fatal consequences.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to create a cassette arrangement for holding boxes or the like, in particular petri dishes, which will permit safe handling and transport of all conventional 80 to 100 mm standard petri dishes or the like. The cassette arrangement should permit secure stacking and problem-free removal of individual boxes or petri dishes from the stack.

[0005] This is first achieved according to this Invention by a thin, box-shaped cassette housing designed to be stackable and having a slotted opening an one end face for Insertion or removal of a box or dish and with finger-operable means arranged an the opposite end face for pushing the dish at least partially out through the opening in the cassette housing.

[0006] Through these measures, safe handling and transport of petri dishes or the like is guaranteed in the case of such so-called dispensers. These cassette arrangements also permit secure stacking and problem-free removal of individual boxes or petri dishes from the stack.

[0007] In a preferred embodiment of the cassette arrangement according to this invention, for secure stacking of multiple cassettes, the cassette housing may have stacking means an the flat side, such as stacking edges or pushbutton arrangements or the like. Furthermore, the finger-operated means for pushing the dish at least partially out through the opening in the cassette housing may include at least one latch that can be pivoted inward at the side by way of hinge means.

[0008] It is advantageous here to provide two latches at the corner, each being capable of pivoting inward, opposite the opening in the cassette housing.

[0009] To secure the cover of the petri dish introduced into the cassette, it is also expedient if one spring part acting into the interior of the housing is integrally molded at least an one flat side of the cassette housing.

[0010] The cassette arrangement preferably consists of a heatresistant plastic that is also resistant to aggressive substances, with a one-piece design being expedient, where the pivotable latches form parts of the wall of the cassette housing and the hinge means are film hinges.

[0011] The cassette arrangements are preferably designed to be at least partially transparent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Exemplary embodiments of the subject matter of the invention will are explained below in closer detail by reference to the enclosed drawing, wherein:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cassette arrangement according to this invention;

[0014]FIGS. 2a & 2 b shows a top view of a cassette arrangement according to FIG. 1 in two handling functions with a petri dish inserted;

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a side view of the cassette arrangement according to FIG. 2a; and

[0016]FIG. 4 shows a front view of a stack of cassette arrangements according to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017]FIGS. 1 through 3 show a cassette arrangement for accommodating boxes or the like, in particular petri dishes, said cassette arrangement being characterized according to this invention by a stackable cassette housing 5 designed in the form of a shallow box with a slotted opening 6 an one end face for inserting or removing a box or˜dish 8 and with finger-operated means 7 arranged an the opposite end face 6′ for pushing dish 8 at least partially through the opening 6 of the cassette housing 5.

[0018] For secure stacking of multiple such cassettes, the cassette housing 5 has stacking means an the flat side, e.g., stacking edges 9 in the form of dovetailed sections or pushbutton arrangements or the like.

[0019] For at least partially pushing out a dich 8 that has been introduced through the opening 6 in the cassette housing 5, the finger-operated means 7 include at least one latch 11 at the side that can be pivoted inward by hinge means 10, but preferably two corner latches.

[0020] In addition, at least an one flat side 12, a spring part 13, which acts toward the interior of, the housing 5, is integrally molded an cassette housing 5, securing the cover of a petri dish introduced into the housing, as illustrated in FIG. 3 in particular.

[0021] The cassette arrangement preferably consists of a heatresistant plastic that is at least partially transparent and is resistant to aggressive substances, in which case the pivotable latches 11 then form parts of the wall of the cassette housing 5, and the hinge means 10 are film hinges.

[0022] These measures make it possible to create a cassette arrangement for accommodating boxes or the like, in particular petri dishes which permit safe handling and transport of all conventional 80 to 100 mm standard petri dishes or the like. The cassette arrangement permits secure stacking and problem-free removal of individual boxes or petri dishes from the stack.

[0023] A number of modifications are of course possible within the context of the invention described above without going beyond the scope of this invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cassette arrangement for accommodating boxes or the like, in particular petri dishes, comprising: a shallow, box-shaped cassette housing which is designed to be stackable and has a slotted opening an the end face for inserting or removing a box or a dish, and with finger-operated means arranged an the opposite end face for pushing the dish at least partially out through the opening in the cassette housing.
 2. The cassette arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the cassette housing has stacking means an the flat side, e.g., stacking edges or pushbutton arrangements or the like for secure stacking of multiple cassettes.
 3. The cassette arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the finger-operated means comprise at least one latch that can be pivoted inward at the side by hinge means for pushing the dish at least partially out through the opening in the cassette housing.
 4. The cassette arrangement according to claim 3, wherein two corner latches, each capable of pivoting inward, are provided opposite the opening in the cassette housing.
 5. The cassette arrangement according to claim 1, wherein a spring part which acts toward the interior of the housing is integrally molded an at least one flat side of the cassette housing.
 6. The cassette arrangement according to claims 1, whereby it is made of a heatresistant plastic which is resistant to aggressive substances.
 7. The cassette arrangement according to claims 1, wherein it is an one-piece design, where the pivotable latches form parts of the wall of the cassette housing, and the hinge means are film hinges. 